By Ben Agande
ABUJA—President Goodluck Jonathan declared, yesterday, in New York that the country will not relent in its fight against terrorism, pointing out that there must be international collaboration to end the menace.
In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, President Jonathan said the world must come together to halt the practice of terrorist organisations occupying territories in order to “collectively halt it before it becomes the norm”.
President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,(L) meets with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the 69th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters on September 24, 2014. AFP PHOTO
President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,(L) meets with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the 69th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters on September 24, 2014. AFP PHOTO
He also called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council in order to ensure “equitable representation of all regions in the decision making process of the Council”.
On the abducted Chibok girls, President Jonathan reassured the international community that Nigeria will not relent until they are rescued safe and alive.
He said: “Let me underline today, that we shall not waver until we end this mindless war on the innocent, and bring all the perpetrators to justice. We will triumph over terrorism.
“In Nigeria, the threat of terrorism in a few states in the North-Eastern part of our country has proven to be a challenge to national stability.
“We will spare no effort in addressing the menace. We are, therefore, confronting it with every resource at our disposal with due regard for the fundamental human rights and the rule of law,” he said.
Speaking on the need for an urgent review of United Nations peacekeeping operations across the world, President Jonathan said: “The failure of unanimity of action by the Security Council over pressing challenges to global peace and security, in Syria, Iraq, the conflict in Ukraine, and the renewed aggression between Israel and Palestine, have strengthened the case for the reform of the Security Council.
“Today’s challenges can only be resolved by a Security Council whose working methods engender transparency, inclusivity, and common ownership through equitable representation of all regions in the decision making process of the Council.
“It is imperative that we take advantage of 2015, which also marks the 50th Anniversary of the 1965 reform, to make concrete progress on the reform of the Council.
“We call for a fast-tracked process, in line with the initiative of His Excellency John Ashe, President of the 68th General Assembly, for establishing a working Group on reform. Indeed, the Security Council requires the collective resolve of all member states to ensure that 2015 brings decisive progress,” President Jonathan told the annual gathering of global leaders.
He noted that although the United Nations was established about 70 years ago to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, the world sadly continues to experience conflict and human suffering.
Speaking on global terrorism, the president noted that “today’s terrorism is vicious and aimless. Its consequences are extremely agonizing, marked by a tendency to annihilate victims, and completely destroy infrastructure and properties. The involvement of foreign fighters has remained a common feature of terrorist groups – whether Al Qaeda in the Maghreb, Al Shaabab in Somalia, Boko Haram in Nigeria, or the newly emerging Islamic State (I.S).
“The new dimension introduced by I.S. to conquer territory and establish its destructive ideology, is a major challenge that must be collectively halted before it becomes the norm. This refocuses attention on the need to review present tools for United Nations peacekeeping operations,” President Jonathan said.
The President assured the gathering that the Federal Government will continue to do everything possible to rescue the abducted Chibok girls and curb the violent and criminal activities of Boko Haram.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the countries and organizations that expressed solidarity with us, and have continued to support our determined efforts to free our daughters.
“Although it has been over three months since they were abducted, we have never relented in our efforts to set them safely free. Together with our partners, we are working assiduously to free our daughters and reunite them with their families.
On the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus disease in West Africa, the President confidently assured the United Nations that Nigeria is now free of Ebola, but said that the world must act in unison to stop the disease from becoming a global disaster.
“While Nigeria was able to respond effectively to control the spread of the disease, the situation in Liberia and Sierra Leone requires sustainable, collective global action to contain. Through the concerted efforts of our healthcare professionals, the World Health Organisation and our international partners, we have been able to contain the EVD and we can confidently say that Nigeria is today, Ebola-free.
“We have however continued to support efforts at containing the spread of the disease in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. It is pertinent to stress the need for the international community to properly appreciate the enormity of the EVD challenge.
“Indulging in isolationist and discriminatory tendencies will only worsen an already critical situation. To prevent the disease from becoming a global catastrophe, the UN must accord it the concerted effort it deserves,” the President said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s belief in the indispensable role of the UN in the global bid to overcome the challenges of conflict, terrorism, climate change and economic development, promising that “We have been, and will remain a reliable and active partner, especially as we collectively work to resolve the new and emerging threats to global peace and security.”
VANGUARD
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